Machine for combing textile fibers



' April 25, 1933. M. P. MELLC) I MACHINE FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed March 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 RQN .N 6% mu Q 0 q W NE W- IQ MN 02 I w M I! Q FE Q 7 r ml NwJ. MN A O Q? a 1 I. M Q N. O l u QN Hz 0 MN m I! fi FYEQN MN IYN April 25,1933. M, P MELLQ 1,905,300

MACHINE FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed March 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'A ril 25, 1 M. P. MELLO MACHINE FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed March 20 1951 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 MANUEL P. MELLO, OF RIVER; MASSACHUSETTS MACHINE FOR COMBING TEX'l ILE FIBERS Application filed March 20, 1931. Serial No. 524,058.

This invention relates to machines for sists in the use of a reversible differentialv combing textile fibers as a preparatory step in .the manufacture of yarn and is intended to provide a construction and arrangement of mechanism by which the combing operation can be more perfectly performed, while,

at the same time increasing production and improving the quality-of the product.

The combing of cotton or similar textile fibers-asheretofore practiced has been regarded as too expensive an operation for the ordinary or cheaper grades of goods because of the large percentage of fibers taken out of the lap as it is brought to the comber for treatment, the loss amounting to fifteen to twenty percent of the material to be combed which goes into waste. Heretofore, the best type of combers could not be advantageously operated at substantially above 7 ninety cycles per minute, since speeding up the machine resulted in increase in waste and deterioration of the product.

One of the dit'icul-ties lies in providing a A drive transmission for the detaching and piecing rolls that will adequately meet the requirements of the case and allow their ac tion to be speeded up and at the same time avoid shock or jerk and maintain the desired smoothness of action while exercising a positive continuously running driving connection to impart the necessary acceleration, retardat'ionand reversing of the detaching and piecing rolls witha properly timed pause. Neither the intermittently acting clutches, nor the continuously rotated variable speed transmission trains heretofore used or'tried, havebeen satisfactory because the former resulted in a sudden jerky action while the lat- I ter has not secured the proper timing of the reversing, retarding and pause to properly piece the detached ends of the combed lap together after the half lap needles have passed through the nipper engaged portion of the lap.

One feature of the present invention con- .speed transmission combined with a suitable controlling .cam, which can be precisely formed to give any desired timing and rate of acceleration or. retardation'of the detaching and piecing rolls, as well as the timingof the reversing and pause thereof, thus permitting the detaching and piecing mechanism and the associated feedingand nipping mechanism to operate at much higher speeds than heretofore vIwas practicable,

while at the same time decreasin the percentage of waste and improving t e quality of the product. I v

But while this new transmission for the detaching and piecing rolls makes possible the speeding up of the detaching and piecing mechanism, it would not be practicable tomake a corresponding increase in the speed of revolution of the half .lap needles $5 or comb teeth through the lap without increasing the stress on the fibers during the combing operation and involving also an undesirable increase in the production of waste. Accordingly, to get the fullest adr vantage of the increased speed of operation made possible by my improved transmission train, I prefer to use such transmission in conjunction with a cylinder or half lap shaft that carries double sets of half'laps and is n driven indirectly from the rmain control shaft through a two to one speed reducing gearing that rotates the half lap cylinder one half revolution for each full revolution of the main control shaft, which controls or times the action of the lap feeding and nipping mechanism although I do not confine the use of my new transmission to this form of driving head alone.

My improvements are. so contrived that they may be readily applied to the driving head of a well known typeof comber at a minimum of expense without necessitating 1 the rebuilding or changing of other parts of the machine,"which is a very important consideration because of the very large num ber of such combers now in use and the heavy expense that would be involved in replacing or rebuilding them.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated so much of the mechanism of the well known Nasmith type of comber, originally patented March 3, 1908, United States Patent No. 724,119 and later modified in details, as may be necessary to a proper understanding of my invention as applied thereto. r

In the drawings r Fig. 1 is a plan view of the driving head of the Nasmith type of comber containing my aforesaid improvements.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, showing the double half lap arrangement in conjunction with the, nipper and feeding mechanism and the detaching and piecing rolls. p

Fig. 3'is a central section through the reversing variable speed transmission element.

Fig. 1 is an end elevation showing the train of gearing through which rotative movement is transmitted from the differential to the detaching and piecing rolls on plane X-X' of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 5 is an end elevation on plane YY of Fig. 1 showing my improved transmission train for controlling and timing the operation of the detaching and piecing rolls through the differential. r

Fig. 6 is an end elevation on plane ZZ of Fig. 1 showing the speed reducing train for driving the half lap cylinderfrom the control shaft. I

In Fig. 1 I have shown a plan view of the driving head of the Nasmith type of comber equipped with my improved transmission control.- v

The power shaft 1, equipped with the usual driving pulleys, is located in the two spaced standards M and O of the machine and is provided with a pinion 2 gearing into a large pinion 3, that is secured to the timer control shaft 4 to which issecured a pinion 6 intermeshing with a back pinion 8, which is compounded with a smaller back pinion 9 to intermeshwith a pinion 10 that is secured to an annular flanged member 11 on the cylinder shaft orhalf lap shaft 12 to which the cylinder or drum 13 is secured which carries the series of half laps 14 embracing the usual combing needles and, in the present case, Whose individual members are diametrically opposed to each other. Only the first pair of half laps 1 1 are shown in the drawings as the others, however numerous, are mounted in the same way and act in the same manner.

It will be noted that the back gearing pinions 8 and 9 are mounted on a shaft carriedby a bearing bracket 7, that is attached to the usual framework of the machine. Furthermore, the ratio ofthis added set of the time controlled shaft, while the feeding and nipping mechanism and the detaching and piecing roll mechanism perform one complete operation at each complete revolution of the time control shaft 4.

The time control shaft carries at its outer end the usual regulating or setting dial Wheel 23 beneath the pointer 23*, which has a projecting pin engaging a slide box 21 on the lever 22, which is secured to the rock shaft to cause oscillation thereof in accordance 1 with the timing established by the adjustment of the dial wheel23. This rock shaft 20 carries a lever 31 through whichsuitable actuation of the well known nipper mechanism, partly illustrated in Fig. 2, is actuated and. controlled.

Secured to the time control shaft also is the usual eccentric 25 surrounded by the head of the eccentric lever 25, which at its rear end is connected with an arm 26 on the rock shaft 27, to which issecured another arm or lever 28 having a link rod connection 29 in the usual manner to actuate the top roll of the first pair of detaching rolls in order to cause said rollD to travel bodily around the periphery of the positively driven bottom detaching roll D.

It has been customary in these machines to operate the detaching and piecing rolls through. actuating mechanism embracing intermittently engaged clutch members. It has also been proposed to rotate the detaching rolls by means of a train of mechanism including an epicyclic differential speed device actuated by elliptical gears, but each method of actuating the detaching rolls has been found unsatisfactory. The intermittent clutch connections impart a sudden jerky movement where a smooth movement is extremely desirable to effect good results in piecing up the detached ends of the lap, while on the other hand the elliptical gear drive for the epicyclic differential transmitting element does not permit the appropriate timing of the reversing of the detaching and piecing rolls to give the proper overlapping of one detached tuft upon the other when piecing together the lap.

One feature of my present improvement is that it affords a means for perfectly timing the two reversing movements of the detaching and piecing rolls, so that each successive detached tuft can be overlapped or deposited on the next preceding tuft presentedjto it so as to give precisely the right amount of overlap, namely, substantially one-half the length of-each tuft to produce auniform and even combed lap as it is delivered from the machine. 5' In the form of transmission" herein illustrated I mount loosely on the' nipper shaft a sector arm 40, whose se'ctor teethf'40 intermesh with a pinion 43 fastonthein 'ternal -shaft 44 of the epicyclic'tra'nsmission 0 element 45, Thissector arm carries-a laterally projecting bowl 41,which engages the groove 42 of a groove or runway in the lateraljface of a cam new is secured to the timer control shaft 4. Since the epicyclic differential transmission 45 is a well known mechanical device, I have shown the details of construction only by the cross sectional view in Fig. 3. As there shown, the interior shaft 44, which carries the sector arm engaged pinion 43, extends through the housing or casing 46 and through two axially aligned bevelled gears 47 and 49, the former of which is fast to the shaft 44 and constitutes the interior driving element of the differential, while the latter 49 is loose on the shaft 44. Mounted on a central diametrical axis are idler bevelled gears 48 which intermesh with bevelled gears 47 and 49 to transmit the motion of one to the other. The casing or housing 46, in which these four bevelled gears are mounted, is provided with a peripheral gear ring 46 arranged to intermesh with the pinion 6 on the timer control shaft 4.

In order to aid an understanding of the action of my improved transmission I will briefly describe the well known operation of the feeding and nipping mechanism in conjunction with the half lap, the top comb and J the detaching and piecing rolls, having par ticular reference to the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Lap over fiber that is to be combed is in the form of a film or lap, usually twelve inches wide, coiled into a roll which rests on the usual revoluble supporting roll not here shown, whose revolution permits the lap to unwind without strain and pass down over the nipper bed or plate 33 and beneath the feed roll 30 carried by the oscillating nipper frame 32. The nipper frame is oscillated from the nipper shaft 20 through lever 31 and connecting link 31*. The upper nipper or blade 34 pinches or grips and holds the advanced portion of the lap so that the forwardly projecting tuft thereof is held while the rows of needles of the half lap are combing through it. 7 H

According to the showing of Fig. 2 the half lap has just completed the combing of the tuft, its heel or rear portion passing by the nippers. At this stage the top roll D starts to travel forward from its rearmost position and the rolls are ready to start 5 their reverse rotation to feed the previously from the second pair of rolls D D will be a smo'oth'non-jerky action "of the detaching vancing tuft. The rate of movement'of the parts, of the pause or dwell given to the mechanism'should bersuch that the newly combed .tuft overlaps"for about'half its length the previously combed tuft, so that the film of cotton forming the'sliverissuing of uniform double;thickness. I It is the timing of the action of the detachingand piecingjrolls that is controlled ade quately by my improved detaching roll control and-actuating mechanism. 1 l

As viewed from the right hand e'nd in' Fig. 1, the main control shaft 4 rotates continuously in a counterclockwise direction, thus producing a rotation of the epicyclicdiflerential 45in a clockwise direction; If the pinion 43 and theshaft44 be held stationary, the pinion 50 will also rotate in a clock'wisedirection and is fast on the hub 'or sleeve'49 of the bevelpinion 49. If the pinion 43 be rotated by the upward movement of the sector arm 40 in a counterclockwise direction, it will accelerate-the clockwise rotationof the pinion 50', the degree 'ofacceleratio n depending upon the speed'of movement of the sector arm in its upward travel. The pinion-43 may berotated in a clockwise direction by the downward movement of the sector arm ata suiiicient rate of speedto causefreverse or counterclockwise "rotation of the pinion '50.

Since'the cam '42 may be cut or formed to give any desired rate of travelin either direction and-any desir'ed length of pause to the movementof the-sector arnnit will be understood that a perfect control may be established to give the detaching and piecing rolls any desiredtiming astoforward and backward rotation and any desired rate of retardation or acceleration and any desired degree of pause in their various movements, thereby permitting the perfect coordination of the detaching and piecing rolls with the combing and nipper mechanism, while at the same time maintaining a positive connection and control,with the timing shaft, which iscontinuous and uninterrupted. This results in and piecing rolls so that tlieirop eration' may be 'v ery substantially speeded up without producing imperfect work. In Fig. 1 andFig. 4 is illustrated thep'os itivedriving and control connection between the detaching-and piecing rolls. "This train of gearing-embraces a pinion 51 meshing with pinion 50 by which it is actuated and-controllediand compounded-with a double width pinion 5.2 which intermeshes with wpi'nioius 53, and .54

for driving the piecing and detaching roll shafts: .v V

' The rotation of the double half lap cylinder shaft through a speed reducing train makes 'it possible to give the cylinder. shaft a speedof approximately sixty-five revolutions per minute as against ninety revolutions per minute, thus making possible the feeding of a much heavier lap through the comb because of this diminished speed, while, by

reason of the fact that there is a combing of 1 the fiber-at each half revolution of the cylinder-shaft, there is obtained at the aforesaid speed of the cylinder shaft about one hundred and thirty. complete combing operations per minute which, coupled with the increased weight of the lap that can-be fed'to the machine, resultsinan increase of production of approximately 100%, while at the same time securing more perfect combing action and a considerable decrease in the'ratio of waste fiber, while the combed fibers are subjected to much less stress and strain because of the relatively slow movement of the comb needles through the lap in the combing operation.

Furthermore, these great advantages are secured through a comparatively simple change in the head of the machine alone, since it requires disconnecting at the head, the

time control shaft from the cylinder shaft 7 v i and inserting the back train gearing bracket with the back train pinions for reducing the speed ratio between these two shafts :onehalf, while the sector, armand its pinion can be readily inserted with a properly cut cam secured to the time control shaft, as described.

What I claimis: V

V 1. A driving head for a comber embracing in combination a driving and controlling shaft, a separate revoluble comb cylinder shaft carrying pairs of diametrically opposed half-laps, a gear connection between said shafts for driving the latter shaft one-half revolution for each revolution of the former, a difi'erentialspeed transmission comprising a continuously revolving member rotated at constant speed by connection with the driving shaft, and an oscillatory variable speed member continuously and positively controlled by a lever and cam actuating connection with said driving shaft for positively controlling and producing forward and back rotation at different speeds, of piecing and detaching rolls, and means controlled and actuated by said drive shaft to operate lap feeding and nipping means through a complete cycle at each revolution of the drive shaft. v

7 :2. In a' driving head for a comber the comand positively controlled by a cam and lever connection with said drive shaft to impart forward and back differential speed rotation with predetermined pause to piecing and detaching rolls at each revolution of the drive shaft. I

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

MANUEL P. MELLO.

bination with a revoluble comb cylinder shaft carrying pairs of diametrically opposed halflaps, a separate drive shaft arranged coaxially of said cylinder shaft and having driving connection therewith through a two-toone speed-reducing gearing, a speed-change 

